Several members of a group of western lowland gorillas at the Atlanta Zoo have tested positive for the coronavirus, after their keepers noticed that many of them showed signs of coughing, a runny nose and some loss of appetite, the institution said. on Friday.
Zoo keepers collected fecal, nasal and oral samples from the gorillas and sent them to a diagnostic laboratory at the University of Georgia, which returned presumptive positive results for the virus that causes COVID-19, the zoo said in a statement.
The institution indicated that it is waiting for the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, which also received samples, to confirm the results of the diagnostic tests.
The release does not say how many of the gorillas appear to be infected, but the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that 13 of the animals had tested positive for the virus.
Zoo teams are collecting samples to carry out diagnostic tests on the entire gorilla population at the site, which is made up of 20 specimens living in four groups, the statement said. In its report, the newspaper noted that members of each of the four groups show evidence of being infected.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution indicated that the virus likely reached the gorilla population through a caregiver who was asymptomatic at work but subsequently tested positive.
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